'They will kill me before they leave' - Elderly man breaks down after losing belongings in demolition

Following the ongoing three-day demolition exercise by the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the Tema West Municipal Assembly targeting illegal structures within the Golf Course enclave of the Sakumono Ramsar site, a video has surfaced online that has sparked reactions from netizens.

In the video, which went viral on X on May 7, 2026, an elderly man believed to be in his 70s was seen visibly furious, raining curses on security personnel at the demolition site.

In the less-than-one-minute footage sighted by GhanaWeb, the man, whose property was affected by the exercise, was heard daring the security officers to kill him following the destruction of his building.

Government initiates 3-day demolition exercise at Sakumo Ramsar Site

“Leave me, they should kill me today… I will let them kill me. I want the soldiers to kill me… You bunch of fools, it shall never be well with you,” he said.

Meanwhile, the operation marks one of the most decisive enforcement actions yet against persistent encroachment on the internationally recognised wetland.

Authorities say the exercise is being driven by a worsening drainage crisis, as illegal structures built along major waterways continue to obstruct the natural flow of water and aggravate flooding in nearby communities.

They noted that the intervention has become even more necessary with the onset of the rainy season.

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Officials also emphasised that restoring the natural flow of waterways is not only an environmental necessity but also an urgent public safety concern, as lives and property remain increasingly at risk.

They stressed that the demolition exercise is neither sudden nor isolated, but rather part of sustained enforcement efforts carried out over several years to protect the Ramsar site.

Watch the video below:

“They should kill me. I want to die”

—Visibly distressed property owner cries out following the demolition of his home at the Sakumono Ramsar site as part of efforts by government to demolish buildings in waterways to mitigate flooding in the capital city.

[🎥: tednewsgh] pic.twitter.com/OybOFMGoMf

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) May 7, 2026